System and method of providing content to a broadcast network

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for prioritizing content delivery. Content files associated with one of a plurality of content types are received and saved in one of a plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the content file where each delivery queue is associated with a priority. In turn, the content files saved in the plurality of delivery queues are delivered over one or more networks to one or more affiliate systems. The transmission order of the content files is based on the priority of the delivery queue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for prioritizing content delivery, comprising:
 a headend configured to:
 receive a plurality of content files, each of the plurality of content files associated with one of a plurality of content types; 
 receive a prioritization scheme that details an arrangement of a plurality of delivery queues with priority levels; 
 set the priority levels of the delivery queues based on the prioritization scheme; 
 save each of the plurality of content files in one of the plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the content file; and 
 deliver, over one or more networks to one or more affiliate systems, the plurality of content files saved in the plurality of delivery queues, the transmission order of the plurality of content files based on the priority levels of the delivery queues. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of content types includes (i) a voicetrack type, (ii) a spot type, (iii) an imaging piece type, and (iv) a music type; and 
 the plurality of delivery queues includes a (i) a first delivery queue having a first priority level, (ii) a second delivery queue having a second priority level, (iii) a third delivery queue having a third priority level, and (iv) a fourth delivery queue having a fourth priority level. 
 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 2 , wherein to set the priority levels of the delivery queues based on the prioritization scheme comprises to:
 set the first priority level as an urgent delivery, wherein the urgent delivery is the highest priority; 
 set the second priority level as a priority delivery, wherein the priority delivery is a lower priority than the urgent delivery; 
 set the third priority level as a normal delivery, wherein the normal delivery is a lower priority than the urgent delivery and the priority delivery; and 
 set the fourth priority level as a low priority delivery, wherein the low priority delivery is a lower priority than the urgent delivery, the priority delivery, and the normal delivery. 
 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein to save each of the plurality of content files in one of the plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the content file comprises to:
 save content files associated with the voicetrack type in the first delivery queue; 
 save content files associated with the spot type in the second delivery queue; 
 save content files associated with the imaging piece type in the third delivery queue; and 
 save content files associated with the music type in the fourth delivery queue. 
 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 4 , wherein to deliver, over one or more networks to one or more affiliate systems, the plurality of content files saved in the plurality of delivery queues, the transmission order of the plurality of content files based on the priority levels of the delivery queues comprises to:
 deliver the content files in the first delivery queue before the content files in the second, third, and fourth delivery queues; 
 deliver the content files in the second delivery queue after the content files in the first delivery queue and before the content files in the third and fourth delivery queues; 
 deliver the content files in the third delivery queue after the content files in the first and second delivery queues and before the content files in the fourth delivery queue; and 
 
       deliver the content files in the fourth delivery queue after the content files in the first, second, and third delivery queues. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the headend is further configured to:
 receive a new priority level:delivery queue pair; and 
 set the priority level of the corresponding delivery queue to the new priority level. 
 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the headend is further configured to:
 receive an additional content file, the additional content file associated with one of the plurality of content types; 
 save the additional content file in one of the plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the additional content file; and 
 deliver, over the one or more networks to the one or more affiliate systems, the additional content file, wherein the additional content file is inserted in the transmission order based on the priority level of the delivery queue the additional content file is saved in. 
 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the headend is further configured to:
 generate an inventory list identifying the plurality of content files; and 
 deliver, over the one or more networks to one or more of the affiliate systems, the inventory list. 
 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the headend is further configured to:
 receive at least one of (i) a request to send one of the content files in the inventory list or (ii) a request to resend one of the content files in the inventory list; and 
 deliver, over the one or more networks to one or more of the affiliate systems, the content file associated with the request. 
 
     
     
       10. A method for prioritizing content delivery, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of content files, each of the plurality of content files associated with one of a plurality of content types; 
 receiving a prioritization scheme that details an arrangement of a plurality of delivery queues with priority levels; 
 setting the priority levels of the delivery queues based on the prioritization scheme; 
 saving each of the plurality of content files in one of a plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the content file, each delivery queue having a priority level; and 
 delivering, over one or more networks to one or more affiliate systems, the plurality of content files saved in the plurality of delivery queues, the transmission order of the plurality of content files based on the priority levels of the delivery queues. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the plurality of content types includes (i) a voicetrack type, (ii) a spot type, (iii) an imaging piece type, and (iv) a music type; and 
 the plurality of delivery queues includes a (i) a first delivery queue having a first priority level, (ii) a second delivery queue having a second priority level, (iii) a third delivery queue having a third priority level, and (iv) a fourth delivery queue having a fourth priority level, wherein setting the priority levels of the delivery queues based on the prioritization scheme comprises:
 setting the first priority level as an urgent delivery, wherein the urgent delivery is the highest priority, 
 setting the second priority level as a priority delivery, wherein the priority delivery is a lower priority than the urgent delivery, 
 setting the third priority level as a normal delivery, wherein the normal delivery is a lower priority than the urgent delivery and the priority delivery, and 
 setting the fourth priority level as a low priority delivery, wherein the low priority delivery is a lower priority than the urgent delivery, the priority delivery, and the normal delivery. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein saving each of the plurality of content files in one of the plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the content file comprises:
 saving content files associated with the voicetrack type in the first delivery queue; 
 saving content files associated with the spot type in the second delivery queue; 
 saving content files associated with the imaging piece type in the third delivery queue; and 
 saving content files associated with the music type in the fourth delivery queue. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a new priority level:delivery queue pair; and 
 setting the priority level of the corresponding delivery queue to the new priority level. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving an additional content file, the additional content file associated with one of the plurality of content types; 
 saving the additional content file in one of the plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the additional content file; and 
 delivering, over the one or more networks to one or more of the affiliate systems, the additional content file, wherein the additional content file is inserted in the transmission order based on the priority level of the delivery queue the additional content file is saved in. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 delivering, over the one or more networks to one or more of the affiliate systems, a station transmission log directing the one or more of the affiliate systems to play a certain content file of the plurality of content files; 
 receiving a station receiver log from one or more of the affiliate systems indicating either the certain content file was aired or the certain content file was not aired; and 
 updating a station affidavit record to indicate that either the certain content file was aired by one or more of the affiliate systems or the certain content file was not aired by one or more of the affiliate systems. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the station transmission log directs the one or more of the affiliate systems to play the certain content file at a certain time. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions including instructions which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform:
 receiving a plurality of content files, each of the plurality of content files associated with one of a plurality of content types; 
 receiving a prioritization scheme that details an arrangement of a plurality of delivery queues with priority levels; 
 setting the priority levels of the delivery queues based on the prioritization scheme; 
 saving each of the plurality of content files in one of a plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the content file, each delivery queue having a priority level; and 
 delivering, over one or more networks to one or more affiliate systems, the plurality of content files saved in the plurality of delivery queues, the transmission order of the plurality of content files based on the priority levels of the delivery queues. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 17 , further having stored thereon a sequence of instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform:
 receiving a new priority level:delivery queue pair; and 
 setting the priority level of the corresponding delivery queue to the new priority level. 
 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 17 , further having stored thereon a sequence of instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform:
 accessing a configuration file to identify the content type of the content files, the configuration file saving a mapping of file directories that store the content files. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 17 , further having stored thereon a sequence of instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform:
 receiving an additional content file, the additional content file associated with one of the plurality of content types; 
 saving the additional content file in one of the plurality of delivery queues according to the content type of the additional content file; and 
 delivering, over the one or more networks to one or more of the affiliate systems, the additional content file, wherein the additional content file is inserted in the transmission order based on the priority level of the delivery queue the additional content file is saved in.